Strange phenomena!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tween Hurn&Filton
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Strange phenomena!
How about a 9 hour sunrise or a sunset that becomes a sunrise?
After 35 years doing this job, there are still extraordinary phenomena that we are privileged to witness.
Regarding the 'endless sunrise', that happened en route to Kelowna in the Rockies from Luton. Departed at about 0500 in the dark but as we climbed to FL430 on a very northerly track over Iceland, we could just see the sun rising to the east. As we descended into destination, the sun, which had never fully risen, disappeared below the eastern horizon and finally rose at Kelowna some hour and a half after we landed!
Amazingly on the return flight a week later we departed at about 1830 local in darkness but climbing to FL410 there was the sun just setting over the western horizon. As we tracked NNW the sun seemed to be 'moving parallel' to our track. By the time we reached Greenland (about 75`N) the sun was still just breaking the horizon to the north of us. I guess sometime about then the "sunset" must have become a "sunrise" as it then moved further towards the east and began to rise normally. Obviously what happened was that due to our extremely northern track, we were effectively looking over the top of the world at the sun tracking around the planet. Also on that sector, the Northern Lights appeared to the south of us!
Comets/volcanoes/earthquakes anyone?
After 35 years doing this job, there are still extraordinary phenomena that we are privileged to witness.
Regarding the 'endless sunrise', that happened en route to Kelowna in the Rockies from Luton. Departed at about 0500 in the dark but as we climbed to FL430 on a very northerly track over Iceland, we could just see the sun rising to the east. As we descended into destination, the sun, which had never fully risen, disappeared below the eastern horizon and finally rose at Kelowna some hour and a half after we landed!
Amazingly on the return flight a week later we departed at about 1830 local in darkness but climbing to FL410 there was the sun just setting over the western horizon. As we tracked NNW the sun seemed to be 'moving parallel' to our track. By the time we reached Greenland (about 75`N) the sun was still just breaking the horizon to the north of us. I guess sometime about then the "sunset" must have become a "sunrise" as it then moved further towards the east and began to rise normally. Obviously what happened was that due to our extremely northern track, we were effectively looking over the top of the world at the sun tracking around the planet. Also on that sector, the Northern Lights appeared to the south of us!
Comets/volcanoes/earthquakes anyone?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hotel time zone
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I read somewhere that the image of the sun refracts through the atmosphere as though it were curving through a tunnel. This means that at latitudes where it would theoretically be impossible to see the sun, it is clearly visible above the horizon.
Good news for the Inuits.
Of course, one only has to be crossing more than 15 degrees of longitude per hour to be "overtaking" the sun, which at high latitudes, is well subsonic. Concorde was lauded as the only aeroplane in which to see the sun rise in the west, which wasnt really true.
Good news for the Inuits.
Of course, one only has to be crossing more than 15 degrees of longitude per hour to be "overtaking" the sun, which at high latitudes, is well subsonic. Concorde was lauded as the only aeroplane in which to see the sun rise in the west, which wasnt really true.
Last edited by Time Traveller; 30th Dec 2008 at 14:08.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hotel time zone
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A balloon at the south pole could make a reasonable claim to be the only aircraft in which to see the sun rise directly in the North, although it might get a bit 'taters, what with a wait for sunrise of 6 months! (since sunset)
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tween Hurn&Filton
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And another one.......
Flying back to UK at FL470 about this time 2 years ago, (from Zch, off maintenance, just because we could!) was most surprised to see a/c well above and contrailing..... with many a/c asking London ATC who/what it was. Well educated Qantas geezer explains that it was a comet whose name I have altzheimered, which passed within 90 miles of earth spewing a debris trail reckoned to be 800 miles long!
Great optical illusion....but I'm sure I could make out it's nav. lights...
Great optical illusion....but I'm sure I could make out it's nav. lights...
